Network protocols, basically. They weren't exclusive to America, either.

It would have been a very dark time. In short, likely through sheer dumb luck and overcoming abject fear. But for the most part, I think that maybe they just didn't?

I don't know if I'm fully qualified to answer, since I was a kid during the rise of the World Wide Web, which is about the time when "the Internet" really reached mainstream status.

In the 80s and early 90s, Usenet groups existed that operated over the Internet. There also would have been BBSes (bulletin board systems) that relied entirely on dial-up.

However, there would have been a rather substantial technical learning curve, so the average person would not have used it. Keep in mind, this was also when the average household didn't even have a computer, and the cost to obtain one would have been substantial - it would have been a tough sell to a lot of people.

Usenet would have had worldwide reach, but the userbase would have been small in relative terms. However, I'm sure there would have been a lot of "adult oriented" groups on it.

Most BBSes were accessed via dial-up. A lot, perhaps most of them were just run by some local who left one of his computers running 24/7 and he signed up for multiple phone lines. The phone number to the BBS was likely posted on a physical, literal bulletin board at the local library, community center, or coffee shop. Because of long distance charges, the vast majority of BBSes would have consisted of local users, which meant people you might run into the grocery store or see in person.

This is perhaps too much background information, but it was probably not likely many such connections were formed.

But what about methods that didn't require fancy electronics?

Before there was Dimensions Magazine, there was apparently something called BUF magazine. It was largely pornographic, available only in adult boutique shops. I've never read it, but some of the covers suggested there were articles that might have covered certain relevant topics. There might have also been some other such magazines. But I think BUF ceased publication sometime in the early 90s?

I can't know for sure, but it's conceivable they could have run a dating service through the magazine, similar to the way newspapers in larger cities did. It would not have been cheap, and it would have been slow. You'd mail letters in, and the service would then forward it to the other person.

There's also the question of how many female readers they might have had; probably not many due to the nature of the material.

If you lived in a small town, this was likely your only option, short of incredible luck.

How about in person? Was that possible?

Maybe if you lived in a large city, went to just the right night club, and then got really, really lucky with meeting the right person?

The NAAFA was founded in '69, and would have had conventions. Perhaps it was occasionally possible for connections to form that way.

There are still occasionally "BBW bash" events but I have no information on how they would have been organized prior to the Web, or even how frequent they might have been.

But in short, I think it was maybe, more often than not, just through sheer dumb luck.

You might still think it's a big challenge now, and it is. It often feels like everyone is too far away, even in the largest cities. But it's a hell of a lot better now than it would have been back then.

It probably also helps a lot that people in general are much heavier now than they were in the 80s or before.

I suppose you could get one on say, the lower gut that's precisely 6 inches long/wide, then measure how long it is every now and again!

Because of reasons, there's a chance I may have to get another car. And even if not now, it may have to happen eventually.

Also because of reasons, most likely I will want to get a compact car - such as the Nissan Versa.

Now, I have had experience driving around a Toyota Yaris, which is similar in size and believe it or not, is remarkably comfortable. I think I can also feel there may be room for a bigger butt. I do have to finagle a little bit to engage the seat belt, but come to think of it I probably always had to do that.

However, I weigh in at around 208 lbs. But I also plan and expect to get heavier.

I really can't imagine ever being over 320ish and I doubt I'd be more than 300ish.

At 320, the Body Visualizer estimates I would have 11 more inches on the waistline, which I feel like should be able to fit okay. Of course, the Visualizer is not perfect and everyone is a little different.

bodyvisualizer.is.tue.mpg.de/male.html

I guess what I wonder is, is if I might partly regret a smaller car if I do reach 300-350ish eventually.

I did read that other recent thread about newer kei-trucks and the mention of Japan's horrifying "Metabo Law" but I don't plan to get a modern kei truck, which in the U.S. is largely impossible anyway.

I'm sure there must be others here with similar experiences, whether it's the Toyota Yaris, Mitsu Mirage, Nissan Versa, Chevy Spark, et. al. and I would like to hear about them.

If possible, I wonder about height, estimated weight at the time, and waistline size if you remember that.

I understand the frustration but as they say, "Rome wasn't built in a day."

It won't be overnight. Meanwhile, enjoy the process.

Jobs that offers lots of snacks throughout the day or events with a lot of food is likely to be an even bigger factor.

One time, I talked to a young lady who started a job at a bank shortly after college at around 220 lbs. There were always a lot of doughnuts, bagels, etc. In addition to whatever she ate at home or outside work, she ended up grazing on those snacks a lot. The result was that in a year, she reached 280+ lbs.

Another time at a job I applied for, I try to look up things like employer reviews. One review on Glassdoor mentioned, as a "negative" that there's a lot of events with a lot of food, and that if you aren't careful, you might end up gaining a lot of weight. Unfortunately, I didn't even get called in for an interview for it.

The main thing though, is that for any job, to focus entirely on salary, paid time off (if any), and if in a country that lacks universal healthcare coverage, the healthcare coverage offered. Never take the job that offers a lot of free food, if the salary is significantly less. The loss in salary is almost certainly greater than the value of whatever food there is, which can more easily disappear later on and stop being offered. You always want the job that pays $50-100+/day more even if it lacks doughnuts, because even if you stop by Krispy Kreme every day to pick up doughnuts, you'd still come out ahead.

I do agree that cream by itself is often not that great. The key is to mix it into a shake or drink, with whatever ingredients you find favorable.

I don't know if you like coffee or hot chocolate, but if you do, a heavy cream mocha tastes incredible, even if it may seem slightly thick. There's also lattes but I think that recipe may include less milk/cream content.

If you ever like to get shakes from fast food places, that's loads of ideas for making heavy cream shakes in a way you may find palatable. If you go this route, Hershey's syrup does *not* seem to mix well. You'd be better off checking out the flavoring syrups in the coffee aisle at the supermarket.

I'll also note that drinking enough water actually does seem to help. You don't want to be dehydrated, and it's almost like it lubricates and help you digest more food. Also, this may be anecdotal but I noticed that if I made a point of having a good bit of water after the cream, the number on the scale went up faster. So don't skip the water.

P.S. Man you're so lucky that you live with someone who doesn't mind and is accepting that you're trying to gain weight on purpose.

Limited budget? That always hurts things.

I wonder if you considered how many calories you're getting in? And whether you're being consistent.

Massive stuffings can be fun but will be self defeating if it means the next day you eat almost nothing.

Some have reported that fasting for a day sometimes can cause the extra calories to seemingly almost cling as extra weight, though I don't think that works for me.

Certain condiments can be particularly loaded with calories. If you don't like mayo, you don't but if you, that has a lot of calories.

I do know you like to get fast food sometimes, either because you want to or it's late after a long day and you don't have the energy, time, or will to prepare something. Paying close attention to the specials can often get you more than you otherwise could.

Taking half an hour or so to study the weekly sales at the supermarkets can also often mean spending $20-40 less than you otherwise would have.

Heavy cream shakes/drinks can be particularly effective, especially if shortly before sleeping or times when you don't think you can eat much or anything for awhile. But I don't know what your roommate might say or think about that. And you should make sure most of your calories do not come from that way. But, I will say heavy cream has very likely helped me gain a considerable amount of weight over the years.

Other than that, not really sure what else I can say based on the limited information provided. That and I don't really want to ask probing questions.

I wish the OP the best of luck in what he's looking for but Canuck is right, it does belong in the Personals so I'm moving it there.